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Almost all of them acknowledged the terrible and sad loss of life in Gaza; They certainly did not celebrate the killing of innocents, as Hamas supporters did here and in the Middle East.
The Jewish community is deeply despondent and saddened by the terrible loss of life and destruction in Gaza, including the loss of life near aid trucks a few days ago. However, we also realize that when you face a demonic enemy who seeks to destroy you, your family, and your people and has blatant disregard for the lives of his own people, you are in an impossible situation. If you stand up against your attacker, you will be seen as an aggressor; If you back down and declare a ceasefire to save innocent people who are often used as human shields, you will become their target again. This is not a fantasy, as Hamas has announced many times that it wants to repeat the events of October 7, over and over again.
Hardly any of those who spoke in favor of the Council's resolution acknowledged the terrible price Israel is paying for a war it did not start – in the loss and trauma of its citizens, its soldiers, and the tens of thousands of displaced people. A society that witnessed brutal barbarism and captured hundreds of its innocents.
I take solace from Melbourne City Council members who recognize not only the acute suffering of the people of Gaza, but also of the people of Israel, and especially the deep concern felt by Melbourne's Jewish community in the face of the offensive anti-Semitism experienced at our university. Campuses, schools, businesses and on the streets of Melbourne. Sadly, the massive rise in anti-Semitism continues to vastly outweigh the horrific increase in Islamophobia.
Noble statements about peace from any town or city in Australia will bring any closer to real Israeli-Palestinian peace. However, we have a proud record of multiculturalism and interfaith engagement in Melbourne. Listening to the other is the beginning of repairing broken bridges.
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We all need to turn down the rising temperature of our rhetoric and reduce the anger and anger on social media. Intimidation of Jews and those who support them should be completely unacceptable to any civil society.
The evasive comments made by the Muslim Council of Victoria and its president, in failing to simply acknowledge the brutality of the outlawed Hamas movement and its unprovoked attack on Israel on October 7, increase rather than reduce the hatred on our streets. Another missed opportunity to show leadership instead of disruption.
Despite the deep, painful division between Jews and Muslims, I still believe that the warring sons and daughters of Abraham can once again find a way to reject the toxicity of religious extremism and restore the paths of peace and harmony in each of their great traditions. Isaac and Ishmael did it centuries ago – and we can certainly do it again!
One of the enduring Jewish words is “hope.” We remain a people full of hope despite centuries of suffering. As the late Rabbi Jonathan Sacks said: “Optimism is the belief that the world is changing for the better; Hope is the belief that together we can make the world a better place. It doesn't take courage to be optimistic, but hope requires a great deal of courage.
Rabbi Ralph Ginnendy is Chief Rabbi of the Jewish Welfare Foundation of Victoria and Kesher, Connected Community, and is the Interfaith and Community Liaison Officer for the Australia/Israel Council and Jewish Affairs.
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